Sustainable Intensification of Cereal-based Farming Systems in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of West Africa
Project Design Workshop
9-12 January 2012, Modern City Lodge, Tamale, Ghana
Transforming Systems Working Group
Main assumptions
Project will work with both small and large-scale farms but smallholders/poor are main targets for impact
Project focuses on linking research to development and provides an opportunity to model how this can be done to bring technology adoption to scale
Linkages Required
Policies
Markets, input and output
Extension
Post-Harvest
Water Management
Credit/Insurance
Capacity-Building
Transport
Health and Nutrition
Inputs
A Potential Approach
Technology is the entry point: begin with an inventory of on-the-shelf technologies applicable to focus systems
Develop an innovation platform that works with a large number of farmers beginning in year 1. Target is 500, focusing especially on women. The platform will train a number of lead farmers who will serve as technology ambassadors in their communities.
To bring technology adoption to scale, the core idea is to identify partner private sector companies, NGOs, donor projects, and bring relevant technologies to the farmer groups and communities they are already working with.
There will need to be an agreement with donors on how impacts will be attributed among contributing partners if this integrated working approach is adopted.
Beginning List of Partners
CSIR, MOFA, Food Research Institute, WRI, ARI, SARI, FORI, CRI (Ghana) and similar agencies in Mali, including IER, Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock
NGOs, including CRS and others working in Ghana-Mali zones
Universities
N2 Africa
AGRA
Food Industries
USAID/Mali, USAID/Ghana and West Africa Regional Mission implementing partners
1. introduce project to policy makers - national, regional, local
2. review of relevant policy
enhancing
problematic
3. corrective actions
project
policy
Market/ - Input Actions
1. what inputs?
available
needed
corrective action
2.partners private sector for inputs
assess
inventory
financing, rural, banks
3. action points
request help
ensure quality controls
monitor partners
Market/ - Output Actions
1. inventory existing markets
2. explore/ develop, information systems
3. school feeding
4. inventory credit, warehousing, credits
5. quality assurance
6. value addition to expand markets
7. WFP
8. standards, weights and measures
9. storage
10. aggregators
11. cooperatives
Extension Actions
1. identify extension resources and capacities
2. incorporate extension into research planning
3. target women farmers
4. extension avenues: radio, electronic, print, on farm deomnstartion, farm field schools, workshops, health centers, faith based
5. nutrition extension
6. extension messages
Capacity Building Actions
1. all levels
extension agents
farmers
scientists
2. statistical training
3. reporting systems
4. M&E
5. link capacity building to project needs and opportunities
Transport Actions
1. policy for maintenance
2. partner with existing prioejcts
3. locate where transport is not a limitation
Health and Nutrition Actions
1. establish a baseline
2. develop extension messages
3. partner with MInistry of Health
4. partner with food resaerch institute / universities
5. UNICEF
6. school feedng
7. partner with womens organizations
Intra-project communication Actions
1. communication policy and plan
2. ensure interaction of research and extension stakeholders
Sustainable Intensification of Cereal-based Farming Systems in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of West Africa
Project Design Workshop
9-12 January 2012, Modern City Lodge, Tamale, Ghana
Transforming Systems Working Group
Main assumptions
Linkages Required
A Potential Approach
Beginning List of Partners
Policy Actions
1. introduce project to policy makers - national, regional, local
2. review of relevant policy
enhancing
problematic
3. corrective actions
project
policy
Market/ - Input Actions
1. what inputs?
available
needed
corrective action
2.partners private sector for inputs
assess
inventory
financing, rural, banks
3. action points
request help
ensure quality controls
monitor partners
Market/ - Output Actions
1. inventory existing markets
2. explore/ develop, information systems
3. school feeding
4. inventory credit, warehousing, credits
5. quality assurance
6. value addition to expand markets
7. WFP
8. standards, weights and measures
9. storage
10. aggregators
11. cooperatives
Extension Actions
1. identify extension resources and capacities
2. incorporate extension into research planning
3. target women farmers
4. extension avenues: radio, electronic, print, on farm deomnstartion, farm field schools, workshops, health centers, faith based
5. nutrition extension
6. extension messages
Capacity Building Actions
1. all levels
extension agents
farmers
scientists
2. statistical training
3. reporting systems
4. M&E
5. link capacity building to project needs and opportunities
Transport Actions
1. policy for maintenance
2. partner with existing prioejcts
3. locate where transport is not a limitation
Health and Nutrition Actions
1. establish a baseline
2. develop extension messages
3. partner with MInistry of Health
4. partner with food resaerch institute / universities
5. UNICEF
6. school feedng
7. partner with womens organizations
Intra-project communication Actions
1. communication policy and plan
2. ensure interaction of research and extension stakeholders